The
EAWA campaigns for the preservation, restoration and good management of
all inland and tidal waterways in East Anglia.

The
Association is a Registered Charity (No. 251382) and was first
established in 1958.

Our Waterways

East
Anglia's waterways are diverse, from the main rivers - the river Great
Ouse, the Nene, Welland and the Witham and their smaller navigable
tributaries through to the unique Norfolk Broads. These are
all key areas of the Association's work.

But our mission to preserve and improve the region's waterways also
covers many rather less well-known rivers - from the Chelmer in
the South, the Blyth in the East,
the Ancholme in the North to the Ivel in the West of our region.
And almost unique to our area are the many miles of historic man-made
navigable channels of the Middle Level and the Cambridgeshire Lodes dug
to drain the Fens over a century before work started on the UK canal system.

Hartford Marina Lodges NOT 'vessels' say High Court JudgesThe Environment Agency's appeal to the High
Court against a decision by Peterborough Crown Court to quash
convictions of two owners of static floating lodges for failure to
register their homes as vessels has been dismissed.
The three senior judges were unanimous in their opinion that the homes
were not vessels for the purposes of the EA (Inland Waterways) Order
2010. They rejected most of the arguments advanced by the EA's
Counsel, Mr David Perry QC and found that the lodges were constructed
and used as homes on water and not to "carry" people or things or to be
"propelled or moved" across the water. On a realistic view of the facts
they are not "vessels" for the purposes of the Order.

The Environment Agency (EA) and
Canal & River Trust (the Trust) have established a joint working group to
explore different options for running the 620 miles of EA-managed river
navigations. It still remains the Government’s ambition to transfer the
EA’s responsibility for navigation of the rivers to the Trust, subject to
affordability and approval by the Trust’s Board and the Minister. This
will help realise the benefits of a sustainable navigation and give the public
greater involvement in the running of the waterways.
The working group is at a very
early, information gathering stage, and no decisions have yet been made on the
details of a potential move.
The working group will begin
with an information and data gathering exercise looking at all of the EA’s
navigations, including: the non-tidal River Thames; the River Wye; the upper
Medway; the East Anglian navigations and RyeHarbour.
As the project moves forward the
working group will investigate the various potential options required for such
a complex move and will be seeking to understand your views and aspirations as
well as those of other stakeholders.
The EA, the Trust and Defra are
committed to finding a sustainable future for the EA’s river navigations and to
working with the communities who use them.

Roy and Lois Parker, in
their cruiser Marie II have succeeded in making the first passage for
several years through the Old Bedford Sluice. They cruised for a
mile southwards before eventually being stopped by weed. The
narrowboat Olive Emily was unable to negotiate the sluice on this
occasion. The sluice and channel are heavily silted. This
waterway will become very important when the Forty Foot River and
Welches Dam Lock are restored as a through or circular route for the
Middle Level system.

Our
Mission

The EAWA believes in
"Waterways for All" - promoting access to our navigations for the
community - whether walkers, nature lovers, anglers, canoeists, boaters
or gongoozlers. We work with and support many local
societies, trusts and other user bodies throughout East Anglia.

We publish a
regular newsletter - 'The Easterling' - bringing
together information on the waterways of our area. Want to
read the latest issue? Just CLICK HERE

EAWA arranges
work-parties for waterway restoration, improvement and maintenance and
offers advice, support and funding to local organisations with similar
aims.

East Anglian Waterways Association and Peterborough IWA have joined forces in PROJECT HEREWARD to re-open the Forty Foot between the Middle Level and Great Ouse system via Horseway and Welches Dam as a WATERWAY FOR ALL

The Project Hereward team now meets every month to develop the programme of action to meet its aims.

Progress on Thetford Council's exciting new bid to bring boats back into the town centre

Thetford
Town Council has now agreed a sum of £15,000 (max) towards the
feasibility study and also been invited by the neighbouring Breckland
District Council to apply for £20,000 matched grant funding. Breckland
is in turn negotiating with Forest Heath District Council seeking added
support. EAWA welcomes this initiative. Re-opening the Little Ouse navigation will bring economic and other benefits to a wider area of West Norfolk.Tina
Cunnell, leading the project for Thetford TC, is working on the
Water Space Study and will discuss with the Environment Agency
integration into the wider regional strategy.

Full news of the Town Council's Plans and other background information ... Click here

The
Present

Supporting the work of the North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust,
established by the EAWA, to restore the navigation and improve the
waterway for all, in co-operation with the canal owners.

Working
with partners to support the Fens Waterways Link, a long-term project to join and extend the Lincolnshire and
Cambridgeshire waterways for navigation.

Working with IWA Peterborough on Project Hereward to re-open the Old Bedford/Forty
Foot southern link of the Middle Level and Great Ouse systems.

Supporting
the Sleaford Trust, working to reopen the upper part of the navigation
within the town.

Supporting
the River Gipping Trust in its aim to preserve the historic heritage of
the Stowmarket Navigation.

Working
closely with the Nene Waterway Task Group and the Great Ouse Boating
Association and campaigning for improved management of these rivers.

Working
with the Broads Authority and other bodies interested in the Norfolk
Broads.

Making
our East Anglian Waterways better known by arranging trips or
activities, such as in conjunction with our AGM.

NORTH WALSHAM & DILHAM CANAL

Recent work parties organised by the Trust have made great progress in
the section above Ebridge Lock, particularly around Bacton Wood and
Pigneys Wood. Our picture shows the volunteers clearing
weed from the mouth of Ebridge Lock in August 2015. The Trust
always welcomes new volunteers and full details can be found on our WORK PARTY page or on the NW&DC TRUST website or by calling 01603 738648.
Picture: Kevin Thomas / Alan Bertram

The River Blyth Navigation - a future restoration project?This little known Suffolk waterway running
for 10-miles from Halesworth to the sea at Southwold was once an
important navigation. There were originally five locks in total in the 4½ mile
non-tidal stretch from Halesworth down to Blyford.

A
half-mile section in Halesworth, registered as a 'village green' is
being cared for by volunteers. The HALESWORTH NEW REACH TRAIL is
an interesting walk of about a mile following the old navigation
channel from the Town Quay to Halesworth Lock.

EAWA
will be involved with numerous small projects around the waterways of
East Anglia - opening access to all.

We
will continue to support and assist the North Walsham and Dilham Canal
Trust to further the outstanding progress it has made in restoring this
waterway.

We
will campaign for the reopening of the Little Ouse from Brandon to
Thetford and offer support to Thetford Town Council with its new plans.

We
will support the proposed Milton Keynes to Bedford Canal link to the
Great Ouse.

We
will support a better link between Kings Lynn and the Inland Waterways
Network.

EAWA 2015 ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING

The
Association's 45th Annual
General Meeting was held on Sunday
19th April at South Kyme beside the River Slea.A conducted tour of the improved
Sleaford Navigation preceded an excellent lunch at The Hume Arms.

Then
it was on to the formal business of the day followed by a presentation
on the work of the Slea Navigation Trust.

CLICKABLE MAP!
When you click the waterways, you go to the page with the waterways
data!

The Complete Anglian
Waterways Navigation Guide Suite
has arrived!

Paul Separovic, the Anglian
Waterways Development Recreation Officer - Central Area (River Great
Ouse)
has recently announced that the completed Navigation Guides
Suite is now finished and is available in hard paper format
and electronic versions.
The complete suite consists of the following publications:

Although available
online - and useful for browsing or for a screen
shot - the best print can only be obtained by sending for an original.Ivan Cane

Support
the East Anglian Waterways Association by giving your mouse a heart!

Click the logo on the left to sign up and see how others have kindly
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The
East Anglian Waterways Association is a believer in "Waterways for All"
- promoting access to our navigations for the community - whether
walkers, nature lovers, anglers, canoeists, boaters or gongoozlers.
We work with and support many local societies, trusts and
other
user bodies in the area - Please visit our LINKS page for more
information.